Prosecutor searches FPF for investigation into Agustín Lozano

By: Alejandro Cespedes García

The Public Prosecutor’s Office searched the offices of the FPF in La Videna (San Borja) as part of the investigation into the president of the association. Augustine Lozano. According to statements made to La República by the chief prosecutor Jorge Chávez Cotrina, this intervention was carried out “for the purpose of seizing documents” because the association would not have complied with the presentation of the accounting documents requested by the public prosecutor at the beginning of February.

“The Court and the Special Court have ordered a search of La Videna so that the Organized Crime Prosecutor, which is investigating alleged criminal activity, may seize the documents requested at the time,” Chávez Cotrina said.

“The authorities of Videna have never paid attention to these requirements; Consequently, the prosecutor was obliged to request the search to the pre-trial magistrate to seize documents, which is happening”.

This intervention comes amid the dispute surrounding the broadcasting rights to Bundesliga 1 matches CFP and some clubs.

Investigation

Lozano Saavedra was investigated for allegedly committing the crimes of extortion, coercion and criminal organization to the detriment of professional clubs in the 1st division.

According to the Criminal Code, said criminal offenses may be fined with imprisonment of 10 to 15 years, 2 years or 15 to 20 years.

“The alleged criminal organization, in its criminal actions, would not have communicated the actual administrative, economic and financial situation of the Peruvian Football Federation to the members constituting its base assembly,” prosecutors said in a statement.

The investigation into him began in December last year and if the charges are successful, he could face sentences that could exceed 20 years in prison. However, as part of the investigation of the alleged criminal organization, 11 other members of the board of directors of the FPF, which includes presidents of clubs, departmental leagues and officials. These are:

Raul Bao Garcia (San Martin), Victor Bellido Aedo (Ayacucho FC), Luis Duarte Plata (Ancash Department), Juan Dupuy Garcia (Footballers Interest Group), Jose Carlos Islas (Juan Aurich), Gisella Mandriotti Nightingale (Cantolao), Osías Ramírez Gamarra (UTC), Arturo Rios Ibanez (Athletic Grau), Genaro Miñán Armanza (Tumbes Department), Sabrina Martin Zamalloa (Deputy Secretary General of the FPF) and Jean Marcel Robilliard (Secretary of the Board of Directors).

    In offices.  Pictures of the raid.  Photo: spread

In offices. Pictures of the raid. Photo: spread

documents in search

The thesis of Public service It would indicate that Lozano would have used FPF resources to prevent some clubs from signing contracts with the Consorcio Fútbol Perú (CFP) for the transfer of rights to broadcast matches.

These payments would amount to 250,000 soles and would have gone to Carlos Stein, Deportivo Llacuabamba and Atlético Grau. In this regard, the prosecutor’s office has requested that the investigation against Lozano be extended to the crime of fraudulent administration, the penalty of which can reach up to 4 years in prison.

Among the main reasons developed by the same entity is the alleged one criminal organization failed to communicate the actual administrative and financial situation of the FPF and that, on that basis, the association distributed different amounts of money to some professional football clubs in the first and second divisions and to some departmental clubs in order to cancel their commitments and debts.

The documents that were not provided and for which the prosecution searched the FPF offices were the bank statements, bank transfers abroad and financial statements from 2018 to 2022; in addition to the existing information on loans granted to natural and legal persons and investments in shares, securities and participations in companies made by the FPF during its administration.

broadcasting rights

On February 21, the Seventh Commercial Court issued an interim measure accepted the FPF’s ownership of the rights to broadcast the Games. That decision, made as part of court proceedings initiated in 2018, ordered the suspension of contracts involving the broadcasting of football matches played “on Peruvian territory, whether friendly or official.”

This decision states that GolPerú (CFP) cannot broadcast matches of the clubs renewed with the channel until the judiciary says otherwise.

It should be noted that the FPF issued a Notice to ensure that “in respect and cooperation with the authorities, reaffirming the principle of transparency that our management promotes, the FPF was ready to provide any documents requested by the prosecutor” and that the “FPF is a legal entity under private law that enjoys full autonomy.

permit

This is the judge’s decision authorizing the prosecutor to conduct the search at La Videna’s offices yesterday morning.

larepublica.pe